Diabetes Management

  • Diabeties
    Diabetes
    Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which the body has difficulty regulating its blood glucose or blood sugar level.  The burden of diabetes is increasing globally, particularly in developing countries. While the causes are complex, but the increase is in large part due to rapid increases in overweight, including obesity and physical inactivity. There is good evidence that a large proportion of cases of diabetes and its complications can be prevented by a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco.
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 1 November 2015

You need a healthy meal plan and an exercise regimen. Being active is very important as it helps the body use insulin more efficiently to convert glucose into energy for the cells. 

Food and Nutrition 

Making the right food choices is very important in managing diabetes. We make it easy for you to eat well and healthily with simple dos and dont’s, tips for creating a healthy plate and examples of low-glycaemic index foods. 

Physical Fitness

Exercise plays a key role in managing diabetes and helps to bring down your blood sugar level. Depending on your blood sugar level, plan a sustainable exercise regimen with the help of your doctor or fitness expert. Do be aware that exercise will have an impact on your blood sugar level, lowering it for hours after you exercise. Check your blood sugar before and after you exercise, so you know how your body is reacting to the activity. If necessary have a snack before you start or after you finish to keep your blood sugar stable. Exercise has many other benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, better blood circulation, weight loss, stress relief etc.

Take charge: Your action plan

• Lose 5 to 10 per cent of your body weight if you are overweight. For eg. if you weigh 70kg, that means a weight loss of 3.5 to 7kg

• Eat healthily (See our healthy meal plans and delicious recipes)

• Exercise for about 30 minutes a day

• Check your blood pressure. Aim for a maintaining a blood pressure of <130/80mmHg

• Check your cholesterol level regularly. Aim for: Triglycerides <150mg/dl. High density lipoprotein >=40mg/dl

• If you smoke, stop

• Self-monitor your blood glucose level with a home blood glucose meter. Aim for: Fasting blood glucose <100mg/dl, two-hour post meal BG <140mg/dl, HbA1c within normal range

• Consult your diabetologist or endocrinologist once every six months. An endocrinologist specialises in the study of glands and hormones while a diabetologist specialises in diabetes, which is an illness of the pancreas gland. 

Know your support team: Who can help you stay healthy?

Diabetes is a complicated disease and you may need more than your diabetologist or endocrinologist to manage it and stay healthy. Because diabetes can affect different parts of the body, you may also need an:

• Ophthalmologist (eye doctor)

• Heart specialist

• Foot doctor 

• Diabetes nurse educator (he/she teaches patients how to self-monitor their diabetes, help in emergencies and also advise on doctors to consult to manage complications) who can advise on doctors to consult and the nurse educator directs the people 

• Dietitian

• Fitness professional

• Psychologist or other mental health professional 

 

Community
Diabetes
Condition
Diabetes

Stories

  • Anatomical Image of Ovaries in human body
    Diabetic Complications: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
    With inputs from Dr. Chandan Dubey What is it If you have 2 or more of the following symptoms, you should get yourself checked by a gynaecologist to confirm or rule out Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS):  • Multiple small cysts in the ovaries • Infrequent (more than 35 days) or absent periods due to eggs not releasing every month  • High androgen features (facial and body hair, acne, abdominal fat, frontal balding) PCOS and its impact  PCOS may lead to acne,…
  • Fish Lasagna (6 Portions)
    Lasagna made from whole wheat doesn’t spike the post-lunch blood sugar as much as the refined flour varieties. Tuna rich in omega- 3 fatty acids and Vitamin D are ideal for people with diabetes who run a higher risk of cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure and elevated triglycerides.  Ingredients: Tuna /White Pomfret (boneless ) - 700 g Onion – 2 Olive oil – 2 tbsp Tomato puree – 1 cup or 250g Sundried tomatoes - 10 g Freshly ground pepper - ¼ tsp Sweet corn - 300g…
  • Chickpea curry (6 portions)
    Chickpeas or garbanzo beans are rich in fibre, iron, phosphorus and the B-complex vitamins. It has been seen that eating chickpeas control blood sugar levels after meals, so it is good for people with diabetes. This recipe also uses poppy seeds, which are a good source of calcium and fibre, low in sodium and have no fat or cholesterol, as well as coconut, which provides certain essential fats missing from other vegetable oils. In this recipe they have been used in…
  • Paneer paratha (makes 6 portions)
    Paneer paratha is a favourite choice for kids’ lunchboxes. It is nutritious and can be modified for the needs of growing children by using whole-fat paneer instead of low-fat and an extra dash of fat (ghee, butter or oil depending on preferences).  Ingredients For the dough  200g whole wheat flour  2 tsp white oil  Pinch of chilli powder  Pinch of salt  For the Filling   200g low-fat paneer  100g onion  50g carrot Small bunch of coriander…
  • Stock pic that says Diabetes
    Diabetes - An Overview
    Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which the body has difficulty regulating its blood glucose or blood sugar level. Blood glucose is the main source of energy for the body and we get it from the food we eat which is broken down into glucose. For glucose to get into the cells, insulin, a pancreatic hormone is required. In patients with diabetes, the pancreas produces less or no insulin or the cells don’t respond to the insulin produced. This leads to the…
  • Diabetic Retinopathy FAQ
    Diabetic retinopathy is an increasing cause of blindness in persons with diabetes. Senior Ophthalmologist Dr Charu Gupta answers your questions, clears misconceptions and separates the facts from the myths. What is diabetic retinopathy? Diabetes can cause changes to the blood vessels of the retina, leading to blindness. This is called diabetic retinopathy. I have good eyesight. I don’t have to worry about diabetic retinopathy. Unfortunately that is not true. Many patients with severe…
  • Delicious Navratan Khichdi Recipe
    A nutritious navratan khichdi that is filling and provides excellent quality protein. It can be adapted to pongal as well. Its tasty and easy to make! Excellent quality protein, loads of vegetables. Great for persons with diabetes too. Ingredients (Serves 6 people) 225g rice  50g soya nuggets (If you skip this for a more traditional option it will reduce the protein content) 55g arhar (toor) dal 55g chana dal 55g moong dal 55g masoor dal 100g potatoes 100g carrot 100g cabbage 50g…
  • Chicken roast with apple sauce (6 portions)
    This preparation is a low-calorie modification of the typical roast. The initial tossing in oil reduces the chicken from drying out while in the oven. The apple sauce without sugar is highly recommended for those who wish to keep their sugar spikes under control after the meal. Ingredients  Whole dressed chicken – 1 ½ kg 4 apples 6-8 small onions 6 potatoes 4-5 carrots 20 French beans 1 capsicum 1 tsp ginger juice 1 tbsp soy sauce (optional) 2 tbsp Worcester sauce 1 stick cinnamon 10 to12…
  • Cheela - Vegetable Omelette Recipe
    This is a vegetable omelette with a difference. You can rustle up this omelette at the drop of a hat on a summer’s day when you don’t feel like having an egg. Ingredients (Makes 6 portions) ½ cup (60g) rice flour ¼ cup whole wheat flour 1 tbsp refined flour 2 tbsp besan ½ cup buttermilk or as required 1 onion (large), minced   1 tomato, chopped  3 green chillies, chopped Few curry leaves, chopped  Salt to taste ½ tsp mustard seeds Pinch of cooking soda (optional) 1 tbsp oil…
  • Avocado In Lettuce Boats (6 servings)
    Elevated levels of blood sugar in diabetes increase the risk of elevated ‘bad’ cholesterol, triglycerides and other cardiovascular problems. Attempts to reduce these risk factors through medication and diet also reduce the level of ‘good’ cholesterol. Exercise and the presence of moderate amounts of monounsaturated fats in the diet help to increase ‘good’ cholesterol in our body. Avocado, also called “butter fruit” in some parts of India, is rich in monounsaturated fats and anti-oxidant Vitamin…